Cortina is one of the oldest ski resorts in Europe, in Italy’s north-eastern corner, with grand hotels dating from Victorian times, and is set among the stunning scenery of the Dolomites. It is also one of the few resorts in the Dolomites with an entirely Italian atmosphere, and almost none of the Germanic and Austrian culture and language of most resorts in the region.
Cortina’s slopes are fragmented, with three unlinked ski areas, each with an entirely different character. There are runs for all standards but intermediates happy to try all three areas (and further afield) will get the most out of them – and buses between the areas are fairly frequent. The resort hosted the Winter Olympics in 1956, and is to hold them again in 2026, with Milan. Cortina also holds regular races on the women’s World Cup circuit and hosted the Alpine World Championships in 2021.
Stay on track with the essential facts from the resort below, and scroll down for our insider guide to a day on the pistes, expert ratings and advice. For further Cortina inspiration, see our guides to the resort’s best accommodation, restaurants and après ski.
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